The art of drinking tea for mindfulness

Mindfulness is the experience of really being in the present moment. Often achieved through meditation, it can be both soothing and energising. And researchers are increasingly finding it can help boost your mood, relieve stress, sharpen your focus and improve your overall wellbeing.

But meditation isn’t the only way to practice mindfulness. There are plenty of everyday activities you can use to create your own mindfulness ritual, giving you a moment of revitalising quiet and calmness in your day.

One idea is the simple act of drinking tea, suggests Sydney naturopath Lisa Guy. Enjoying a cup of tea is something many of us already do in our daily lives. By really focusing our attention on the experience and all the soothing sensations it brings, we can gain even more positive benefits.

Lisa is the founder of Bodhi Organic Tea, which provides beautiful, unique herbal tea blends. “Our teas are made in Australia with the highest quality, loose leaf tea,” she says. “I designed our wellness range with the aim to enhance people’s health and wellbeing.

“My top things I do to stay healthy and balanced is to eat wholesome, fresh food and stay away from anything processed. I stay hydrated with herbal teas, veggies juices, fresh coconut water and plenty of water.”

Here, Lisa shares her steps for creating a mindfulness practice with a delicious cup of freshly-brewed herbal tea.

Tea drinking as a mindfulness practice

Mindfulness is a state of being, achieved by focusing your attention and awareness on the present moment, while you calmly connect to your breath and acknowledge and accept your feelings, thoughts and physical sensations felt throughout your body.

Drinking tea is a lovely way to bring mindfulness into your daily life. It’s a gorgeous and practical way to remind yourself to be conscious in the now, not worrying about the past or feeling anxious about the future. Drinking tea with mindfulness will help you feel more calm and relaxed, and will allow you to reconnect with yourself, your body and those around you.

Paying close attention and appreciating the finer details of preparing and brewing loose leaf tea will also allow you to enjoy a more enriched drinking experience that will engage all of the senses.

Creating your daily tea ritual

Set aside a time each day to practice mindful tea drinking. It might be in the morning to energise yourself for the day ahead, in the afternoon to de-stress and ground yourself at work, or in the evening to calm your mind and body before bed.

1. Place a spoonful of whole loose leaf Bodhi tea in your favourite teapot.

2. Smell the aroma of the dried leaves as they settle in your teapot.

3. Listen to the sound of the water being poured over the leaves.

4. Observe the beauty of the leaves swelling and expanding.

5. Think about the leaves being handpicked from organic tea farms around the world.

6. Watch the water change colour and the steam rise from the pot.

7. Listen to the sound of your tea being poured into your favourite cup.

8. Find a quiet, comfortable place to sit, take a deep breath in and exhale, expelling any feelings of stress and tension in the body.

9. Feel the smoothness of your cup in your hands and on your lips as you take your first sip.

10. With each mouthful feel the warmth of the tea move from your mouth to your stomach, then disperse through your body.

11. Savour each mouthful, appreciating its rich flavour and aroma.

12. Bring your focus to your body and how the tea makes your feel – calm and relaxed, or energized and alert.

13. Pay attention to what feelings the tea evokes in you.

Try Lisa's delicious pomegranate iced tea recipe.

Download your free Little Book of Mindfulness to learn more about mindfulness and relaxation.